About Robert Davis, Sr.

King William Co. formed 1701 from King & Queen Co., VA

Amherst Co. formed 1761 from Albemarle Co., VA

“We are not certain where Robert was born, though some say King William County, Virginia and believe Nathaniel was his father; he names his first son Nathaniel.” -- “Anna Cartlidge notes that Robert, having lost his land in Amherst Co., Va. In a disputed filing by a Nicholas Davies, removed to Nachez, Miss. (then a part of Ga.), by July, 1759, where ‘. . .we find him in Georgia with his wife, five children, and thirteen slaves, petitioned for a grant on the south side of the Sapala River known by the name of Cedar Point.’

Those in his will to whom he leaves money are the children who remained east. . .His will was dated September 5th, 1771, and it was proved in 1773. (or 1790). Caraol Seales notes that we have no proof of these wives, except Grace who is named in his will.” -- per Carol Seales, email dated January 2002: “. . .he married 3 times, so the span in the children’s birthdates would be wide. He acquired a large amount of land in Amherst county, but failed to patent it correctly. Nicholas Davies came along and entered the patents on Robert Davis’ land and because it was not properly patented before, the court awarded all of Roberts land to Nicholas. My guess is that this made Robert so angry, he left for the territories. . .After Robert lost his large acreage in VA, he and his 3rd wife Grace with their sons Lewis, Landon and Hugh moved to the Southern Territory. Many entries can be found in the Natchez court records, but also in the Georgia Records and sometimes sources state Florida. The documents list such rivers as Thompson Creek and the Homochitto River.” (Stevens, Marshall, Mitchell, Washington and other Families, Pat M. Stevens IV, RootsWeb World Connect Project database)

“The Davis Family continued to be fur traders until about 1750. One fur station is thought to be one mile above the Otter Creek. In 1753, Robert Davis and his family stopped fur trading for plantation life. Robert built a plantation above the Lawrence Creek (Otter). However, Robert lost this plantation to Nicholas Davies because he had neglected to get a proper title for this property. It was around 1750 that Nicholas Davies came into this peaceful settlement with land grants. These land grants caused Robert Davis and Nicholas Davies to quarrel over who had a right to this land. However, since land grants were recognized over squatter rights, Robert had to leave the county. He moved to. . .Natchez on the Mississippi, then part of West Florida.” (The Stevens and Allied Families in America Since 1600s, Pat Stevens, Family Tree Maker On-line database)

“Court records in Natchez -- Court Book E, p 237, 5 Feb 1791 (Galveztown) -- concerning and estate argument between Martha Davis Foley and her former husband’s brothers show that -- Grace, widow of Robert Davis, died in the year 1784. . .Martha, widow of (1) Lewis Davis, married a (2) Foley). . .-- Lewis, Landon, and Hugh Davis have made a settlement. . .on June 12, 1790 in Galveztown on the estate of their father. (editor -- confusing in the papers because Lewis died before his mother, as is noted elsewhere. . .).” (The Stevens and Allied Families in America Since 1600s, Pat Stevens, Family Tree Maker On-line database)